New company logo, what do you think?

02/21/2006 11:45:34 AM · #1

As none of you already know, I import espresso from Florence, Italy. I'm now about to expand into specialty liqueurs and some wine. I'd like to get some opinions about the company name and logo I created for the new business.

I've already trademarked the name and logo so I guess it's actually a little late to be getting feedback, but I'm intersted all the same. This would not be used on product labels, just on a website, promotional material, business cards, etc.

Only the logo and S.P.Q.R. are really part of it, the sentence underneath was just tossed in there to fill space for now.

Thanks!

posthumous

Canon EOS-40D

Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II

02/21/2006 11:48:51 AM · #2

I'm impressed that you were able to trademark "SPQR". I think it's great, though I would use a more primitive font for S.P.Q.R.

Sigma 50mm f/1.4 DG HSM Art for Canon

02/21/2006 11:51:08 AM · #3

I should have mentioned, the font isn't set in stone either. It's just what I had on my computer that looked best. You can trademark spqr but for different purposes. For example, I'll have it for sales of alcohol. Someone else selling something completely unrelated can trademark it for something else.

For example, there is Dove soap and Dove ice cream bars. Same name, both trademarked.

When this actually goes to print, I'll definitely sit down with someone who has a million fonts and fine one more "Roman" or primitive. Thanks for the feedback.

postoakinversion

Canon EOS-6D

02/21/2006 12:00:07 PM · #4

I think it's not a good idea to use a photo in a logo. It severely limits how you can print it and what you can print it on. If that's not gonna be an issue, then I guess there's no strict rule against it. It's just one of those things that communicates "this is a small company". If you look around at major company logos, you'll (almost?) never see one with a photo in it.

My only other suggestion, if you're wanting an elegant look, would be to use a thinner font. The heavy font and photo don't really seem to communicate "fine wine". Good choice of colors though.

hokie

Nikon D2X

Nikon AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 17-55mm f/2.8G IF-ED

02/21/2006 12:51:20 PM · #5

Hey;

I couldn't resist having a go at this (its what I do).

I liked the idea of the coin but I was more interested in what was on the coin. I put the coin through all these art filters to see what may pop out at me. I kept getting this sense of an old king from the Mediteranian. I love abstract shapes and I was looking for an Iconic shape to attach as a logo element.

The letters SPQR also intrigued me. I had an assignment back in design school 22 years ago to design a logo around my intials and this reminded me of that assignment.

I ran the letters through some of my more favorite fonts (out of maybe 8,000 I have ..Yikes!). Came up with a modern and euro flavored font.

I incorporated the iconic image of the Med King into the type and ..well...just goofing around :-D

So ...

bcoble

Olympus E-300 EVOLT

Olympus 14-45mm f/3.5-5.6 Zuiko Digital ED

02/21/2006 01:05:44 PM · #6

Keep in mind that whatever logo you pick, how will it look on letterhead, invoices business cards ect.
This may not look good on letterhead.

Kavey

Canon EOS-400D Rebel XTi

Sigma 18-125mm f/3.5-5.6 DC for Canon

02/21/2006 01:11:52 PM · #7

I'm amazed they let you trademark a photo of an original object that you didn't create!

The item in the photo looks to me to be either the object known as the La Bocca della Vertita - The Mouth of Truth (located in Rome) or a very similar one presumably made around the same time/ place. The one in Rome is thought to be created in Roman Times as a drain or tunnel cover, it's been used as a kind of "lie detector" for the last few centuries and is a popular tourist attraction now.

I have to say that I do think it's kind of odd to use an historic object as the logo for a commercial business but that's very much a personal opinion and I mean no offence by sharing it. You asked for opinions and I felt it best to be honest.

Quite aside from that I'd agree with others that using a photo for a logo is not ideal. A strong logo should be able to be reproduced and easily recognised at different sizes from fairly small to pretty darn large and preferrably work in one colour printing as well as multi colour.

Message edited by author 2006-02-21 13:12:12.

dahved

Canon EOS-50D

Tamron AF 18-270mm F/3,5-6,3 Di II VC LD Aspherical [IF] macro for Canon

02/21/2006 01:16:27 PM · #8

The spacing of the periods doesn't look quite right, especially after the "P." But maybe that's not been worked on yet...

Sigma 18-125mm f/3.5-5.6 DC for Canon

02/21/2006 01:38:28 PM · #9

Thanks for all the suggestions. This is what I needed, some different viewpoints. I'll try to explain my reasoning.

Kavey is right, it is the "Bocca della Verita'" in Rome. I did take the photo myself over Christmas holiday so I don't have to worry about Copyright laws on that one. So far there have been no problems with it, but we'll see if someone challenges it as a logo or not, since it's something I did not build myself. If used in conjuction with our name as a symbol and is not meant to be completely exclusive, I think we'll be fine.

My tie to Rome is that my wife is Roman ( Roman first, Italian second)and the liqueurs we will be importing come from just outside of Rome's borders.

Using a historic symbol such as this has been done before, the best example I can think of is "Sambuca Romana" with a design of the Colosseo right on the label.

My dealings are basically going to be with distributors and that's basically it. It's a wholesale company so public viewing of the logo would be severly limited. Possibly, if things go well, to magazine advertisements in the future. For right now, the logo would be for a website, tradeshow posters / brochures and perhaps on a business card. That's about it in terms of printed material.

For a letterhead, you're absolutely right, it's not the best idea, so we would just use the company name in whatever font we finally choose.

The font, size and spacing are all up in the air. I plan on sitting down with a graphic designer and pouring over their thousands of fonts looking for the right one.

I like the tie in to Italy and the ancient "feel" to the image, though I'm aware of the limitations it will have of it's use. I do appreciate the ideas and suggestions, it really helps a lot.

Message edited by author 2006-02-21 13:41:09.

Kavey

Canon EOS-400D Rebel XTi

02/21/2006 03:32:57 PM · #10

How about trying to create a line-art drawing based on the image rather than using the photo itself?